The Nuggets pulled off a double dip in Dallas.
Here are three takeaways from Denver’s 118-99 win over the Mavericks on Tuesday at American Airlines Center.
1. That was the strongest indication Jamal Murray is taking another jump in January. Slow or inconsistent starts have been an issue for much of Murray’s career, but he’s typically found a way to raise his level a few months into the season. The 27-year-old scored a season-high 45 points and did so on 18-of-26 shooting. He added six assists, two rebounds and two steals. Murray got it done in a multitude of ways from up-and-under moves in the mid-post to tough, step-back jumpers and an efficient 5-for-9 mark from 3-point range. With a 32-point first half, Murray joined Nikola Jokic, Allen Iverson and Nick Van Exel as the only Nuggets to score 30 or more points in a half since 1997-98.
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2. Nikola Jokic hardly had to shoot to make some history in Dallas. Jokic made the only two shots he took in the first half, but he recorded nine rebounds and eight assists before halftime. The eighth assist made Jokic the fastest player in NBA history to record 15,000 points, 7,500 rebounds and 5,000 assists. Jokic needed 709 career games to reach those totals. Larry Bird, the previous record-holder, did so in 799 games. Jokic finished with 10 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists and two steals. He made 4 of 7 shots and committed just one turnover in nearly 29 minutes of playing time.
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3. The wins all count the same, and that’s a big two-game sweep for the Nuggets in Dallas. Prior to the games, Dallas was 22-16 to Denver’s 22-15. The Nuggets took advantage of Luka Doncic missing both games, Kyrie Irving being absent for Sunday’s game and Dereck Lively II exiting Tuesday’s game in the opening minutes. Michael Malone’s team messed around with Sunday’s game but didn’t make the same mistake Tuesday. The Nuggets weren’t this opportunistic or ruthless earlier in the season. If the Nuggets can continue their streak of winning on the second night of back-to-backs on Wednesday, moving into the two seed will become an increasingly realistic possibility. The Nuggets won the season series with Dallas, 3-1.
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NUGGETS 118, MAVERICKS 99
What happened: Denver led by 15 after the first quarter and stretched the advantage to 71-45 at halftime. Dallas closed to 24 points to start the fourth quarter but never threatened Denver’s lead.
What went right: The Nuggets played arguably their best first quarter of the season. Denver made 6 of 11 attempts from 3-point range, while Dallas missed all five of its attempts. The Nuggets also forced five turnovers and led by as many as 17 in the opening quarter. That set the tone for the rest of the way.
What went wrong: Former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders raised alarm bells by sitting courtside in Dallas, where his father, Deion Sanders, is reportedly in talks to potentially be the next coach of the Cowboys. The Denver Gazette’s Buffs beat writer, Tyler King, eased those concerns, as the young quarterback trains with a quarterback coach in the area, while Coach Prime has been in Boulder for winter workouts.
Highlight of the night: After flubbing one alley-oop finish, DeAndre Jordan made up for it on the next couple of possessions. Russell Westbrook went right back to Jordan, and Denver’s backup center threw down the finish over Daniel Gafford. Jordan swatted Gafford’s shot on the other end to protect the Nuggets’ 20-point lead.
Up next: It’s right back to Denver for the Nuggets, who host the Houston Rockets, sitting second in the Western Conference, on Wednesday.
